Pool-table



4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Mddel.)

W. H. VIOLETT.

POOL TABLE.

No. 451.536. Patented May 5,1891.

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY (No Model.) 4 sheets-sheet; 2. W.. H. VIOLETT.

POOL TABLE.

Patented May 5 W/T/VESSES:

ATTORNEY (No Model.)

4 Shts-Sheet 3. W. H. VIOLETT.

POOL TABLE.

PatentedMayS INVE/VTUH' By M WITNESSES.-

ATTORNEY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

W. H. VIOLETT.

POOL TABLE.

Patented May 5, 1 89 l.

UNTTED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

WILLIAM H. VIOLETT, OF GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO.

POOL-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,536, dated May 5,1891.

Application filed Ja 5, 1890.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM II. VIOLETT, residing at Grand Junction, in the county of Mesa and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pool- Tables, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to improvements on the table shown and described in another application filed by me June 19,1889, Serial No. 314,877; and it has for its object to simplifythe construction thereof, render the operation more positive, and to provide suitable means whereby any single one or all the balls can be removed from the several pockets, and whereby the cue-ball may be deflected to the side of the table, where the player who made the shot is standin i a My invention consists in the peculiar combination and novel arrangement of the several parts, all of which will hereinafter be described in the annexed specification, and particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of my improved pool-table. Fig. 2 is a topplan view thereof, the table properbeing shown in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a view of the rack end of the table. Fig. 4 is a similar View of a portion. of the opposite end. Figs. 5. and 6 are detail views illustrating one of the sliding gates and cut-off connected to each of the pockets. Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate in detail the means for shifting the one or scratch ball. Fig. 9 is an inverted plan view of the device shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view of the gong-operating devices.

Oneof the established rules in the game of pool is, that if a player pockets the cue-ball he forfeits one of his balls out of the rack and spots it on the table again. In my other application referred to I did not provide means for getting the scratch-ball out of the series of troughs or pocket-s forming said rack without letting all the balls of the particular trough or pocket fall out.

In the drawings, A indicates the table, which is provided with the usual corner and side pockets aa a, which open into the car- Serial Ito. 357,910. (No model.)

riers 0r tubes Bl which lead into a single trough B at a point under the center of the table, supplemental carriertubes B being provided at the sidepockets, which deflect the balls from a direct discharge from such side pockets and prevent the balls from ontering the trough B too rapidly.

C indicates an inclined swinging switch which serves to lead the balls from the end of the trough B into any one of a series of troughs or pockets D, preferably eight in number, such number of players being the largest that can enter into the game. The upper end of the switch-trough is always in communication with the discharge end of the trough B E indicates the switch operating lever which runs from one end of the table to'the other under it, its free end e' projecting sufficiently to allow plenty of room to move it laterally under an indicator-plate f, which is divided into eight divisions, I numbers of the troughs or pockets of which the rack D proper is composed.

a la or whose number is 7 la he would indicating the Thus, should.

after'he has made his shots, shift the end e of the lever Eunder 7, which would shift the switch C to connect thetrough 13 with trough No. 7.

The bar E is pivoted below the center of.

the table ona transverse bar I, and is connected to the switch 0 at the point j by meaps of a pin is, formed on brackets k 7;,projected from the switch 0, said .pin entering a slot j in the bar E, as shown, the end 0' ofthe bar being projected over the rack D, so the same can be shifted from either end of the table. The rack 1) consists of aseries of longitudinal troughs D, the outer ends of which are closed by spring actuated slides (1, one of which is shown indetail in- Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, by reference to which it will be seen that vertical guideway's d d are formed on the outer faoes of. the troughs D, in which the slides operate, each of such slides being formed with a cut-off (1 as shown. By this construction it will be observed that when it is desired to take out a ball to be spotted on the table the player pushes the slide down to the position shown in dotted .lines in Fig. 6. This allows the first ball to rollout. The cutoff (Z however, coming down in front of the next succeeding ball, will hold itin the trough.

To provide means whereby the slides will be automatically closed and held closed, I employ the device shown in Figs. 3 and 5, which show a spring 10, to which is attached one end of a cord 11, which is secured at its opposite end to a lug or pin b. Said cord passes over a series of pulleys 12, arranged one intermediate each slide (1. The lower end of each of the slides is provided with a grooved roller 13, which rests upon the cord, as shown. By this construction it will be seen that when any one of the slides is pulled down it will press the cord down, drawing on the tension of the spring, and when the slide is released the spring will quickly draw the cord up and move the slide over the discharge-opening of the respective trough D.

G denotes the switch-gate, which serves the double purpose of allowing the balls to enter the trough B and also to deflect the scratch or cue ball to be discharged at either side of the machine. By reference to Figs. 2, 6, and 7, which show said device and its adjuncts most clearly, it will be seen that the same consists of the transverse trough-sections G G which are arranged transversely to the trough or chute B and disposed below the same,said troughs G G at their intersection with said trough B being provided with a slide 20, which projects up and forms the bottom of the ehuteor trough B at this point, said slide being connected with alever F, pivoted at F, to the front end of which is connected the ends of oppositely-extending cords g g, which project up under the table near the side pockets. By this arrangement, in case the cue-ball enters any of the pockets the player, by pulling the cord nearest him, will cause the lug to be moved by means of the lever F, so the ball will drop into the trough G or G and roll out toward him into a basket X, and as the player releases the cord the spring f will pull the lever F and the slide 20 back to their normal position.

Udenotes the gate for closing the chute B which in the present case isplaced at/apoint marked V on the drawings, being in advance of the transverse trough G. This gate is operated in the following manner: Under each end of the lever E, near the center of the hinged bar Z, is fastened a cord L, which passes up over four small stationary pulleys m n, the pulley '21 being nearthe center of the lever E, and the pulleym near the ends thereof. Directly under the pulleys n n is arranged a pulley o, and to the left of the same, over the gate U, is another pulley p. 'The cords L pass down under the pulley 0, over the pulley p, and are connected to the gate U, as shown.

\Vhen a player is through playing; he shoves the lever E (from either end of the table) to bring the switch to his particular trough D; and by pressing down on eitherof the bars Z, .(see dotted lines, Fig. 1,) he will Tl raw upon the cord L, thereby raise the gate Uand allow all the balls held in the chute B to pass into his rack.

The object of placing the pulleys, n n and 0 near the center, as shown, is to allow'for the moving of the leverE without drawing on the cord L.

If desired, the lever E maybe madeto come through the end of the table at or near the dotted liner-and stillbe operated on the same principle.

A sliding plate e engages with a spring-actuated hammer f adapted to ring a gong 9-", a spring it being employed to pull the plate to its normal position. By this arrangement each time the switch is moved notice of such movement will be given by means of the e 9 i indicates a cord which is connected with the cord 11, said cord rbeing passed through suitable guides j and held in such a manner that when any of the slides (Z are pulled down the gong will be caused to ring. hen the game is finished and the balls are again wanted to put back onto the table, a lever H which is pivoted at one end, is drawn back by its handle, and said lever being pivoted to aslide 1 which covers holes 0 in the bottoms of the lower end of each trough D, will pull said slide from under the said holes 0 and allow the balls to roll into a chute C and-be discharged therefrom into a basket F On one end of the lever II is secured a finger K which engages a spring-plate m is connected one terminal of an electrical circuit, the other terminal endingwitha parallel plate M, a suitably-arranged alarm-bell being located in said circuit, preferably within earshot of the attendant or proprietor of the billiard and pool parlor.

As the lever H is moved, as described, the two plates m and n will come into contact and thereby close the circuit and ring the alarm, thereby notifying the proprietor or attendant, even if located in another room, that a game has been finished and a new one about to be commenced. the lever any suitable registering devices may be employed, whereby the number of games played will be recorded.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the advantages of my improved pool-table will readily appear.

vIt will be seen that the players have full control of the balls, and the necessity of traveling across the room and walking about the table totake the balls out of the pockets and place them in the racks usually. employed is entirely avoided.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is- 1 1. The combination, with the table, the chute or trough B and the chutes 13 Bintermediat-e the table-pockets and the trough B of a series of troughs D, a swinging switch or independent trough 0, adapted to connect with which IEO In connectionwith the trough 13 with any one of the troughs D, and a lever centrally pivoted under the table andextended to the ends thereof andconuected with the switch 0, whereby the same will be shifted as the lever is swung on its pivot, sub

stantialiy asand for the purpose described.

2. in a pool-table essentially as described, the combination, with the table, the chute E the chutes B B, connecting said chute with the pool-tablepockets, and aseries of troughs or pockets D, located below the table, of a supplemental pivoted switch-trough C, adapted to connect the chute B and any one of the troughs D, the cutofi gateU in the chute B the centrally-pivoted lever E, and the operating-cords .L L, located on the lever and connected with the gate U, said lever connected with the switch-trough C and adapted to swing the same, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

In a pool-table essentially as described, the combination,with the table, the-chute E the ehutesll B, connecting the chute B with the table-pockets, and a cut-0E slide U, held in the chute B of the transverse troughs G G and a device consisting of the slide 20 and the swinging lever F, said slide 20 adapted to normally form a bottom portion of the trough B and to deflect the balls and allow them to roll out in either of the troughs G G2 when swung by the lever F, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In a pool-table essentially as described, the combination, with the table, the chutes B 13, connected with the table-pockets, and the chute B of a series of troughs D, held below the table, a switch-trough adapted to deflect the balls from said chute B to any of the troughs D, a cut-off gate U, held in said chute B transverse troughs G G'fleommunieating with the chute 13 in advance of the gate U, a shifting slide or gate operating at the juncture of the troughs G G and chute 13 and means for operating the slide whereby the balls may be deflected and discharged to either side of the table, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In a pool-table essentially as described, the combination, with the table, the chute 13 the chutes l B, connecting said chute B with the table-pockets, and a series of troughs D, located below the table near one end, of a swinging trough orswitch 0, adapted to be adjusted to connect the chute B' with any one of the troughs D, an indicator-plate located at the end of the table opposite the troughs D, and a centrally-pivoted lever E, connected with the swinging trough or switch 0, its front end projected under the indicator-plate, all arranged substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. In a pool-table essentially as described, the combination, with a series of troughs D D, located below the table and communicating with the pockets thereof, of a series of sliding gates, each formed with a cut-cit, said gate adapted when lowered to allow the first ball to fall out, the cut-01f adapted to come in front of the next succeeding ball and hold same in position, substantially as and for the purpose described.

. 7. The combination, with the table and the troughs D, located below the same and communicating with the pockets thereof, of the sliding gates held over the discharge end of such troughs, and devices for automatically holding all of said gates in a closed position and arranged to close them when opened by hand, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. The combination, with the troughs D and the sliding gates held to automatically close said troughs D, of the spring-tension cord located beneath said gates to hold them closed, a gong located on the racks,.and intermediate connections between said gong and the cord whereby said gong is sounded when any one of the gates is depressed, substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. In combination with the troughs D, formed each with a discharge'opening in the bottom near the ends thereof, communicating with a single chute, a cut-0d slide 1, adapted to normally close said openings, an electrical circuit, and an alarm-bell in said circuit, said circuit adapted to be closed when the slide I is shifted from under said openings, all arranged subst-antially as and for the purposes described.

\VILTJAH Il. VIOLETT.

Witnesses: I HORACE T. DE Lone, WILLIAM A. MAnsI-I. 

